Discovering Simply eLiquid

Hello my lovelies!

It's been almost a MONTH since I last posted. There are many reasons, and I'm planning a short post next week to try and explain a couple of them to you and introduce some new changes I'm implementing as of now. You'll probably notice that London Beauty Banter is no more and I've popped back up as That Lisa Clare. Again, all will be explained and I will have a bit of a catch up with you all and let you in on what I've been up to during my absence in due course.

As some of you will remember, back in April I gave up smoking. I haven't really mentioned it much since but here we are, almost 6 months later, and I'm STILL off the cigs! Hurrah!! I'm still using my electronic cigarette and really enjoying it. It really is so much better than the real kind. I've been testing out a new brand for the last week courtesy of simplyeliquid.co.uk and I'm here tonight to tell you a bit about it and how I've been finding it. 

Simply eLiquid were kind enough to send me the MAXI cigarette kit by JustFog* as well as three flavours of their popular eLiquid* to go in it.

I must say I've enjoyed using all the products! The quality is fantastic and the liquids are a great size. 

The MAXI kit consists of:

2x Electronic Cigarettes (batteries and tanks)

USB Charger Cable (with mains adapter plug)

Large eGo Carry Case

1x 30ml Bottle of eLiquid (of your choosing)

I was a bit baffled by the clearomiser tank to begin with. It's a top coil design but with a VERY short wick. I tend to favour a bottom coil (my current favourite being the Kangertech EVOD) and was fairly sure that the wick would not pick up the liquid well and result in those 'dry hits' that hit you straight in your windpipe. Actually, this isn't much of an issue as long as I tip the cigarette up every so often to ensure the wick remains saturated. The only thing I do find is that it doesn't take long for the liquid to start going brown (this happened after 2days for me but this didn't appear to affect the flavour or the functionality). The chamber is quite small and doesn't hold as much liquid as my EVOD, but if you like more variety and to change up your flavour more often then this is for you. I find I get around three tanks worth per battery charge.

The liquids are very pleasant indeed and great value. You get 30ml in a bottle and they come in every flavour you could imagine from Bubblegum to Apple Pie. The flavour itself is quite strong compared to other brands I've tried, which is not a bad thing at all. I guess it's like Ribena; some like it stronger than others haha. It's a PG/VG mix which is fine by me. It is a very clean tasting vape and you get a very satisfying amount of puff. The flavours I've been trying are Cola, Bubblegum and Passionfruit and it's a thumbs up on all three! I only take a low nicotine strength (these are 5mg) but the liquids on the site range from no nicotine at all right up to a whopping 36mg!!

The MAXI eCigarette Kit is sold for £39.99 on Simply eLiquid (link) and the eLiquids at £7.75 per 30ml bottle (Link). I don't think that's bad at all for the quality and quantity of the products. Remember, it's a double kit so you'll always have a spare! I've really enjoyed my first experience of Simply eLiquid and will definitely be using the site in the future for liquids. 

Do you Vape?? Are you considering giving up smoking?? Do any of these flavours appeal to you??

2 Week Smoking Update: eCig Progress

Evening folks!

I'm going off topic again today (my apologies for those who would prefer not to read my life ramblings on anything other than beauty haha.... I shan't be offended if you carry on scrolling). I posted a couple of weeks ago about my decision to stop smoking and how I was using an Electronic Cigarette kit from vapingvision.co.uk to help me kick the habit and keep me away from the dreaded cancer sticks for good. I've reached the two week point now so I though I'd pop up with a little update, share my latest eLiquid finds and maybe encourage a few of you to follow my lead!

(May I just add that I am not being paid by Vaping Vision for featuring their products. Everything featured in these posts has been purchased with my own money, I just happen to be VERY impressed with their products and service)

I'm VERY happy to report that I have neither touched, nor felt like touching, a proper cigarette at all since we last spoke on the matter. What really really shocked me is that I'm totally FINE with other people smoking around me. I'm currently staying at my parents house and both my mum and brother smoke in the kitchen but I'm just NOT fussed! I even went outside while visiting some old work colleagues at the pub in Bakewell and was able to chat to them while they were having their cigarette break.

 I'm still using the eGo, but I'm getting a little less reliant on it already. I can be around smokers without having to use it. Simply having it there in my handbag kinda takes the pressure off, as I know it's there if I have a wobble (but I haven't so far). I'm still on the nicotine liquids though. I'll be seriously looking into getting nicotine free ones in the next week or so. I've really been enjoying the different flavours from Vaping Vision though! My current favourite is Bubblegum. Sounds a bit mental doesn't it but it's sooooo nice!!  I feel I should point out that, to me, these eCigarettes don't feel the same as smoking real cigarettes. I don't find my habits are the same with it either. I know the true test will come when I come off the nicotine liquids but, I suspect that the nicotine isn't going to be the biggest problem for me. It'll be when I first attempt to go out and about without having it with me.

I hauled a few new flavours this week, Bubblegum, Vanilla, another Cherry (I'm all out, it's yummy) and the lovely James threw a Rum one in with my order. I'm actually a bit obsessed with the Bubblegum one haha. I also ordered some spare clearomisers as, after a couple of weeks, the wicks tend to die and need to be replaced. I'm loving my pretty purple one and will be ordering other colours (one for every outfit - this purple matched perfectly with the floral trousers I wore today haha). 

LOL - I just can't help myself. Coordinating colours please me

I can safely say though that I am so pleased with my progress. I feel so empowered and triumphant and I REALLY am determined not to buy cigarettes any more. I have a little smug victory moment every time I leave the corner shop without any. I don't even miss them at the moment. We'll see how I get on without the nicotine eventually, I guess but so far so good! My food tastes yummier, I feel better in myself and I swear my skin is better (although I don't have problem skin by any means). 

You can do it to!!!

Are you looking for your own extra push to quit the cigarettes for good? Well, James has issued me with my very own special discount code to share with readers of this blog which can be redeemed against ANY eCigarette Kits, Accessories, Parts and eLiquids on their site! You can use the code as many times as you like. I'm really happy that I might be able to help someone achieve the level of utter LIBERATION that I am currently experiencing.

Simply enter BRUNETTEBEAUTYBANTER at the checkout when paying for your items on vapingvision.co.uk

If you have any questions, queries or worries about anything, James is more than happy to answer emails (very quickly, I might add). You can find him on info@vapingvision.co.uk

I really have had a fantastic experience with them so far. My next update will probably be when i reach the 6 week mark. By then i hope to have weaned myself off the nicotine liquids so that I can begin to eliminate it altogether. Perhaps I'll become one of those social vapourisers that only whips out the eCig at boozy parties haha. 

Do you have an inspiring SmokeFree story?? I'd love to hear it!! What worked for you??

(Off Topic) I Gave Up Smoking!!

Apologies ladies that this post is not beauty/fashion related but I've made a MAJOR change in my life this week and ditched the cigarettes! As we all know smoking is a foul and repulsive habit that gives you wrinkles and slashes years off your life. So not any more!!

 I've smoked since I was about 17. The amount of cigarettes has yo-yo'd a little over the years but cigarettes were a definitely big part of my daily routine. I always said that I would never smoke past the age of 30. Well, I'm 30 now and I'm not one to say something and not do it so, when one of the lads from work showed me his electronic cigarette the other week I just HAD to give it a go and order a kit for myself. I just wanted do a little post about how I'm doing it and why and maybe inspire a couple of people to do likewise...

I knew straight away that an e-ciggie would work for me. I suspect that my dependence on cigarettes had more to do with routine and habit rather than me actually craving nicotine. I don't even like the taste of cigarettes (bizarre, I know). I'm just so used to having cigarettes at certain times of the day (first thing in the morning, after meals, waiting at the bus stop etc etc) and it's the physical ACT of having a cigarette that's going to be hard for me to kick.

The kit I have is the eGo CE4 Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit from vapingvision.co.uk. For £21.99 you get...

The eGo-T Electronic e-cigarette (battery, clearomiser, mouthpiece etc)

USB Charger Cable

Plug

eGo Zipped Carry Case

and

1x Free eLiquid of your choice from a range of flavours

I ordered two extra eLiquids at £3.49 each so I have 3 in total for now. I have Cherry, Mango and Raspberry. My total order came to just over £28 (shipping is free) but I think I've made a chunk of that back already in cigarettes that I have NOT bought over the last 3 days!! I started using it immediately after receiving it in the post and it was very easy to put together and get my head around. It's not messy to fill up either and does not leak.

The flavoured eLiquids are so yummy! I guess it's kind of like a mini electric shisha in a way. It's only been 3 days so far so I am using it quite a bit as I'm trying to kick the urge to go outside for a cigarette at work and at home. It just feels weird that I don't have to go out for one any more. The liquids come in two strengths but I went for the weaker. I guess I'm still a bit reliant on it for now but my plan is to gradually reduce my usage of it, before switching to nicotine-free eLiquids. Vaping Vision do not sell those though so I will have to source them elsewhere.

 Eventually I hope to stop using it altogether but I still feel great to not be buying cigarettes all the time. Not to mention the money I'm saving. I also smell AWESOME now that I'm not smoking cigarettes. I was on the bus earlier and I really noticed the smell on people who had been smoking (ie, gross) so I'm glad I'm not one of them any more.

The plan is to get to 6 weeks smokefree and then I'm going to treat myself to some Topshop Joni jeans with the money I've saved!! If anyone would be interested in follow-up posts on my progress do let me know. I think I'd like to do further posts, just because this is such a major change in my life.

Are you trying to (or want to) give up smoking?? Are you an ex smoker?? How did you kick the habit?? I'd love to hear your tips!!